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Lesson Info

Post Type
Article
Level
Level 2 / A2
Published
Title
Three Men Rob Pokemon Card Shop in New York
Webpage
https://eslnewsstories.com/articles/2026-01-28-pokemon-card-robbery/

In this lesson:

  • Warm-up Prediction task and general discussion questions.
  • Vocab List Useful words and meanings.
  • Reading Read the main text.
  • Listen and Fill Gaps Listen for missing words.
  • True or False Check understanding.
  • Put Events in Order Arrange events from the story into the order they happened.
  • Multiple Choice Check understanding.
  • Vocab Match Connect words to meanings.
  • Discussion Builder Think about how ideas relate to each other to choose connecting expressions.
  • Discussion Questions Open speaking questions for discussion (or writing practice).
  • Answers Answer key for the printed tasks.

Think Ahead: Why do you think robbers target a Pokemon card shop?

a) Some rare cards can be sold for a lot of money.

b) The cards are easier to move than computers or jewelry.

c) The shop keeps cash from card tournaments overnight.

A first edition Charizard Pokémon card.
A first edition Charizard Pokémon card.

Ask: (1) Do you collect anything? (2) Have you ever heard of Pokémon?

VOCAB LIST

Rob (v.) — To steal from a person or place.
Hammer (n.) — A tool used to hit things.
Valuable (adj.) — Worth a lot of money.
Rare (adj.) — Not common and hard to find.
Pointed (v.) — Aimed something at someone or something.
Robbed (v.) — Took money or things by force.
Curtain (n.) — A piece of cloth that covers a window or door.

Reading

Three men robbed a Pokémon card shop in New York City on Wednesday evening. Pokémon cards are trading cards with small creatures on them. Some rare cards are very valuable. The shop is called Poké Court.

One man had a gun. He pointed it at the workers and customers. Another man closed the curtain at the front of the shop. He also watched the door. No one could leave. Nobody got hurt.

The men broke a glass case with a hammer. They put many cards into their bags. The cards were worth at least $110,000. One card had a picture of Charizard. Charizard is a famous Pokémon that looks like a dragon. This card alone was worth about $15,000.

The robbery took only three minutes. The men also took money from the shop. Police are looking for them. This was not the first robbery at a Pokémon card shop. Thieves have robbed other shops across the country.

Three Men Rob Pokemon Card Shop in New York

Level 2 Source: nytimes.com

Warm-up → Read & Listen → Check Understanding → Language → Use It

A first edition Charizard Pokémon card.
A first edition Charizard Pokémon card.

Three men robbed a Pokémon card shop in New York City on Wednesday evening. Pokémon cards are trading cards with small creatures on them. Some rare cards are very valuable. The shop is called Poké Court.

One man had a gun. He pointed it at the workers and customers. Another man closed the curtain at the front of the shop. He also watched the door. No one could leave. Nobody got hurt.

The men broke a glass case with a hammer. They put many cards into their bags. The cards were worth at least $110,000. One card had a picture of Charizard. Charizard is a famous Pokémon that looks like a dragon. This card alone was worth about $15,000.

The robbery took only three minutes. The men also took money from the shop. Police are looking for them. This was not the first robbery at a Pokémon card shop. Thieves have robbed other shops across the country.

Speaker: American Female  Duration: 1:13  Watch on YouTube

Two ways to use this audio:

  • Method 1: Listen for the main idea: what is the article about in one sentence? Listen a second time for more details, then try the Understanding activities below.
  • Method 2: Read the article first to learn the vocabulary and ideas. Then look at the gap-fill sentences to see what to listen for, and listen to fill them in.

Listen and Fill Gaps

Listen to the audio on eslnewsstories.com and complete the gaps below:

Three men robbed a Pokémon card shop in New York City on Wednesday evening. Pokémon cards are (1) cards with small creatures on them. Some rare cards are very valuable. The shop is called Poké Court.

One man had a (2) . He pointed it at the workers and customers. Another man closed the curtain at the front of the shop. He also watched the (3) . No one could leave. Nobody got hurt.

The men broke a glass case with a (4) . They put many cards into their bags. The cards were worth at least $110,000. One card had a picture of Charizard. Charizard is a famous Pokémon that looks like a (5) . This card alone was worth about $15,000.

The robbery took only three minutes. The men also took money from the shop. Police are looking for them. This was not the first robbery at a Pokémon card shop. Thieves have robbed other shops across the country.

True or False

Answer each question by selecting True or False, then click CHECK to see your results.

  • The robbery happened on a Wednesday evening.
    The article says the men robbed the shop on Wednesday evening.
  • The shop is called Pokémon Palace.
    The article says the shop is called Poké Court, not Pokémon Palace.
  • Someone got hurt during the robbery.
    The article says nobody got hurt.

True or False

1. The robbery happened on a Wednesday evening. TRUEFALSE True

2. The shop is called Pokémon Palace. TRUEFALSE False

3. Someone got hurt during the robbery. TRUEFALSE False

Put Events in Order

Put the events from the story in the correct order from first (1) to last (4):

  • The men broke a glass case with a hammer.
  • One man pointed a gun at the workers and customers.
  • The men put many cards into their bags.
  • Another man closed the curtain and watched the door.
  1. One man pointed a gun at the workers and customers.
  2. Another man closed the curtain and watched the door.
  3. The men broke a glass case with a hammer.
  4. The men put many cards into their bags.

Multiple Choice

1. How much were the stolen cards worth?

   a) At least $110,000Correct

   b) About $15,000

   c) Less than $100,000

   d) Exactly $150,000

2. What did the men use to break the glass case?

   a) A gun

   b) Their hands

   c) A hammerCorrect

   d) A rock

3. What does the Charizard card look like?

   a) A small creature

   b) A famous person

   c) A dragonCorrect

   d) A bird

Vocab Match

Loading vocabulary activity...

Vocab Match

Write each vocabulary word next to its matching definition.

1. Robe) To steal from a person or place.

2. Valuabled) Worth a lot of money.

3. Pointedc) Aimed something at someone or something.

4. Curtainb) A piece of cloth that covers a window or door.

5. Hammera) A tool used to hit things.

a) A tool used to hit things.

b) A piece of cloth that covers a window or door.

c) Aimed something at someone or something.

d) Worth a lot of money.

e) To steal from a person or place.

Discussion Builder

Discussion Builder

Choose the best phrase for each gap:

  1. The thieves took $110,000 worth of cards. that's a lot of money.

    For example, / I think, / But,

    The thieves took $110,000 worth of cards. I think, that's a lot of money.

  2. Shops need good security thieves can steal expensive things.

    but / and / because

    Shops need good security because thieves can steal expensive things.

  3. The men took many valuable cards. the police have not caught them yet.

    So, / But, / Also,

    The men took many valuable cards. But, the police have not caught them yet.

Discussion Questions

  1. How did this article make you feel? Surprised? Angry? Why?
  2. Do you know anyone who collects cards, figures, shoes, or something else?
  3. Why do you think some Pokémon cards are so expensive?
  4. Have you ever seen a robbery in a movie or on TV?
  5. How can shops protect expensive items?
  6. Would you pay a lot of money for a rare item? Why or why not?
  7. What is the most valuable thing you own?
  8. Do you think collecting things is a good hobby? Why?

Answers Three Men Rob Pokemon Card Shop in New York / Level 2

Think Ahead: a

Listening: (1) trading, (2) gun, (3) door, (4) hammer, (5) dragon

True or False:

  1. True. The article says the men robbed the shop on Wednesday evening.
  2. False. The article says the shop is called Poké Court, not Pokémon Palace.
  3. False. The article says nobody got hurt.

Multiple Choice: a, c, c

Put Events in Order:

  1. One man pointed a gun at the workers and customers.
  2. Another man closed the curtain and watched the door.
  3. The men broke a glass case with a hammer.
  4. The men put many cards into their bags.

Vocabulary:

  1. Rob: To steal from a person or place.
  2. Valuable: Worth a lot of money.
  3. Pointed: Aimed something at someone or something.
  1. Curtain: A piece of cloth that covers a window or door.
  2. Hammer: A tool used to hit things.

Discussion Builder:

Hints: 1) Opinion. 2) Reason. 3) Contrast.

  1. I think,
  2. because
  3. But,

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